My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 430

The Chinese government is already eager to undermine the Taiwanese government’s legitimacy. If the Korean government provides an opening, they will seize the opportunity.

“China is a powerful country. Frankly, they’ll ignore the opinions of countries like Vietnam or Myanmar. Their approach, known as wolf warrior diplomacy [an aggressive style of diplomacy], is characterized by that kind of assertiveness.”

“And they’ll likely deploy special forces, given their power.”

“Well, troop losses aren’t as significant in a communist country, unlike in Korea.”

China does not recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty. Taiwan, on the other hand, insists on its independence from China.

“Generally, China’s claims are accepted worldwide, though.”

In fact, one of the reasons Taiwan failed to resolve this issue in the future was its inability to pursue diplomatic solutions due to its lack of international recognition as a sovereign nation.

Southeast Asian countries, in particular, are so heavily influenced by China that they often consider Taiwan to be a part of China.

“What would happen if we shared this information with Taiwan?”

“Ugh…”

They would desperately pretend not to know. That’s what happened in the original timeline. Despite their efforts, they see no viable diplomatic or military solutions. They would have no choice but to ignore the report to prevent their very existence from being jeopardized.

“But not China.”

China asserts its claim over Taiwan as its territory. Conversely, from China’s perspective, Taiwanese people are Chinese citizens and thus entitled to state protection.

“Perhaps the Chinese government will pressure Myanmar or Vietnam to mobilize their forces. And considering China’s influence, they might even use their own military.”

It’s a kind of performance, a golden opportunity to rescue Taiwanese people with their own military and proclaim that ‘Taiwan is part of China.’ Moreover, would the rescued people say, ‘Taiwan is an independent country. Don’t talk nonsense!’? Far from making such claims, they would likely express gratitude to the Chinese government for saving them.

“The political showdown between Taiwan, which abandoned its citizens, and China, which protected its citizens, would result in a complete victory for China.”

“I know. Yes, I fully understand. But that’s the diplomatic problem.”

Even if Korea is subtly siding with China, Taiwan remains an ally of the United States and a member of the free world [a term used to describe democratic countries aligned with the US during the Cold War].

So, Korea couldn’t completely ignore Taiwan while subtly aligning with China.

“But if we request this from China…”

Requesting this directly from China would be equivalent to the Korean government acknowledging that ‘the Taiwanese government does not exist and only recognizes the Chinese government.’

“But if we inform the Taiwanese government of this situation and request their cooperation, then China will freak out.”

No, it would be better if the problem is solved even if they freak out. The Taiwanese government’s capabilities are 100% insufficient to resolve this issue, and in the end, they will only stage a superficial investigation, while the organs of hundreds or thousands of people held there will be harvested.

In the meantime, Lee Sang-won will also be killed.

“We can’t make this decision arbitrarily.”

It is an extremely sensitive political issue. And the other parties involved are not known for their reasonableness. Neither China nor Taiwan is known for their willingness to compromise.

Although there are disputes over statehood between China and Taiwan, they seem to have similar reactions to external pressures because they share a cultural background.

A deep-seated Sinocentrism [the belief that China is the center of the world] and a hostile reaction to outside perspectives. They believe they are superior, and they become extremely aggressive if challenged.

But in that situation, taking sides with one over the other?

“A serious diplomatic dispute will occur.”

“I know. That’s why we have to phrase things carefully.”

“Phrase things carefully?”

“Yes, we exert pressure through China while simultaneously leading the operation.”

“Operation?”

“You’re not just planning to inform China and hope they resolve the case, are you?”

“Huh? No, that’s not it.”

“If you inform China, they will try to save them at all costs. But it’s difficult for them to do it alone.”

Even with wolf warrior diplomacy, deploying troops to another country carries significant burdens. Furthermore, the possibility of information leaks from within is almost certain.

“If we hand over all the information to China, the criminals will harvest the organs of the survivors and flee before we even arrive.”

If they are truly desperate, they will flee without leaving a single person alive.

“So, you shouldn’t hand over all the data.”

“What data?”

“Like the location of those guys.”

“Don’t we know either?”

“Why wouldn’t you know? How many times have I told you? They joined forces with the Karen rebels [an ethnic armed group in Myanmar].”

In other words, they are in the Karen rebels’ territory. And the number of places where you can make phone calls in that area is limited. Moreover, the area where you can confine and manage thousands of people and mobilize them for labor is limited.

“So, China is making it a condition that we must help them in order to carry out the rescue operation.”

“But then Taiwan…”

What would Taiwan say if that happened? They would be furious, questioning why we are discussing the rescue of their citizens with China.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but Taiwan doesn’t have a particularly favorable view of Korea.”

“In the first place, are there any people of Chinese descent who like Korea?”

Yoon Tae-min clicked his tongue at Park Do-joon’s words. Because it’s true.

“Taiwan has a significant inferiority complex towards Korea. In fact, Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan all harbor inferiority complexes towards each other as a kind of underlying emotion.”

“Inferiority complex? Why would we be sorry for having an inferiority complex?”

“That kind of reaction is a sign of an international inferiority complex.”

Park Do-joon smiled and said.

“If you don’t even recognize your own inferiority complex, how can diplomacy between these countries succeed?”

“What does inferiority have to do with my son!”

Lee Eok-ho flared up as the story became more complicated.

“It’s related. The criminals understand and are exploiting the relationships between China, Taiwan, and Korea. If you don’t understand that properly, you won’t know how things will unfold.”

And it was Park Do-joon, a profiler, who had to reduce the variables.

“China has an inferiority complex because a country that was once a vassal state of Korea is now more successful. Taiwan has an inferiority complex because they were deprived of the mainland that was once theirs by China and denied international recognition. Korea has an inferiority complex towards China because they once bowed their heads to such a seemingly backward country. And Taiwan has an inferiority complex towards Korea because Korea, once a poor and underdeveloped country, has become more prosperous. We may see Taiwan as a Chinese subject, but we maintained relations with them until the end, yet they don’t seem to appreciate our efforts.”

In the end, the underlying dynamic in Northeast Asia is one of mutual judgment and distrust.

“Northeast Asian diplomacy is not based on cooperation and alliance. It’s a game of betrayal, deception, and distrust.”

Yoon Tae-min couldn’t deny that. Because it’s true. Japan and Taiwan are allies of the United States, like Korea, but it’s not a genuine alliance. They simply pretend to cooperate because they need the support of a powerful nation like the United States. However, beneath the surface, the relationship is so strained that it wouldn’t be surprising if they severed diplomatic ties.

“So, we have to use that to set a trap.”

“Trap?”

“Yes, to put it simply, China has to be a meat shield, and we have to find a way to get our people out.”

“China is a meat shield…”

“In fact, China won’t be particularly concerned about the lives of the hostages.”

Lee Eok-ho and Yoon Tae-min’s faces hardened at those words. What does that mean?

“But you clearly said that China would launch a rescue operation?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s certain. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re truly rescuing them.”

Officially, it’s a rescue operation, but unofficially, it’s going to be a mop-up operation. Because while China asserts the One China principle [the position held by the PRC that there is only one sovereign state under the name China], it doesn’t genuinely consider Taiwanese people as Chinese.

If that were the case, they wouldn’t even contemplate annexing Taiwan through war. A war would result in the deaths of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people.

“They will carry out a massive mop-up operation instead of a rescue operation.”

They just need the pretext of a rescue operation, and by doing so, they are trying to engage in political promotion in the style of ‘We are saving our Chinese people.’

“Would people care if a few Taiwanese people died in the process?”

“That’s…”

Yoon Tae-min shook his head, thinking about China’s style. That’s unlikely. China’s disregard for human life is appalling. There was a case where a sinkhole appeared in the middle of the road, and when a car fell into it, even though they knew that a person was alive inside, and even though the person was screaming to be saved, and even though the family was at the scene for rescue, instead of rescuing them, they poured concrete into it to bury them alive to block the sinkhole.

Even violent organizations don’t operate that way, but the Chinese government does. [This is a reference to a specific incident that highlights the Chinese government’s perceived disregard for human life.]

Would such a country value the lives of Taiwanese people? That’s improbable. Moreover, it is estimated that there are at least 100 people there.

“From China’s point of view, it’s acceptable if the criminals kill the hostages during the rescue operation.”

What is important is the political purpose of attempting to rescue them. Even if the criminals kill all the hostages because the rescue fails in the process, China has nothing to lose.

They are adept at controlling the media. If they claim that they went to save them, but they were already all dead, that’s the end of the story.

“Then why are you even talking to China!”

“Competition.”

“Competition?”

“Yes, what will happen if Taiwan finds out about this later?”

Of course, they will try to resolve this problem by any means to demonstrate their capabilities.

“And that problem includes active negotiation.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“That’s right. We’re getting involved in it.”

Negotiations to save one person are impossible. Because once you save one person, the location is revealed.

“But Taiwan is different from China.”

They can’t mobilize troops, and they can’t ask the Myanmar military for help. Because it’s not a recognized country. The only option they have is one.

“That’s negotiation.”

The current reality for Taiwan is that they have no choice but to pay money and rescue their citizens.

‘If China doesn’t intervene, Taiwan will just abandon the case.’

In fact, that’s what happened in the original timeline. Taiwan announced that it would investigate, but did nothing. No, they couldn’t.

“But what if China attacks?”

“Conversely, that’s why the criminals will negotiate.”

“Why?”

“Because they can’t kill them all quickly.”

To be exact, it is not profitable to kill them all. No, they can’t kill them.